The Windows 1.0 product box featured the
operating system's new, tiled windows and
graphical user interface (GUI).
Windows History
Windows Desktop Products History
Microsoft initially announced the
Windows product seven years earlier
and released the first version in 1983.
1985: Windows 1.0
• The first version of Windows provided a new software
environment for developing and running applications
that use bitmap displays and mouse pointing devices
• Windows users could switch among several
concurrently running applications.
• The product included a set of desktop applications,
including the MS-DOS file management program, a
calendar, card file, notepad, calculator, clock, and
telecommunications programs, which helped users
manage day-to-day activities.
1985: Windows 1.0 (contd..)
This early Interface Manager product
preceded the Windows 1.0 GUI.
1987: Windows 2.0
• Windows 2.0 took advantage of the improved processing
speed of the Intel 286 processor, expanded memory, and
inter-application communication capabilities made
possible through Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).
• With improved graphics support, users could now
overlap windows, control screen layout, and use
keyboard combinations to move rapidly through
Windows operations. Many developers wrote their first
Windows–based applications for this release.
• The follow-up release, Windows 2.03, took advantage of
the protected mode and extended memory capabilities
of the Intel 386 processor.
• Subsequent Windows releases continued to improve the
speed, reliability, and usability of the PC as well as
interface design and capabilities
1990: Windows 3.0
• The third major release of the Windows platform from
Microsoft offered improved performance, advanced graphics
with 16 colors, and full support of the more powerful Intel
386 processor. A new wave of 386 PCs helped drive the
popularity of Windows 3.0, which offered a wide range of
useful features and capabilities, including:
• • Program Manager, File Manager, and Print Manager.
• • A completely rewritten application development
environment.
• • An improved set of Windows icons.
• The popularity of Windows 3.0 grew with the release of a new
Windows software development kit (SDK), which helped
software developers focus more on writing applications and
less on writing device drivers. Widespread acceptance among
third-party hardware and software developers helped fuel the
success of Windows 3.0.
1990: Windows 3.0(contd..)
The new File Manager in Windows 3.0.
1993: Windows NT 3.1
• When Microsoft Windows NT® was released to manufacturing
on July 27, 1993, Microsoft met an important milestone: the
completion of a project begun in the late 1980s to build an
advanced new operating system from scratch. "Windows NT
represents nothing less than a fundamental change in the way
that companies can address their business computing
requirements," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said at its
release.
• That change is represented in the product's name: "NT"
stands for new technology. To maintain consistency with
Windows 3.1, a well-established home and business operating
system at the time, the new Windows NT operating system
began with version 3.1. Unlike Windows 3.1, however,
Windows NT 3.1 was a 32-bit operating system.
1993: Windows NT 3.1(contd..)
• Windows NT was the first Windows operating system to
combine support for high-end, client/server business
applications with the industry's leading personal productivity
applications.
• It was initially available in both a desktop (workstation)
version and a server version called Windows NT Advanced
Server.
• The desktop version was well received by developers because
of its security, stability, and Microsoft Win32® application
programming interface (API)—a combination that made it
easier to support powerful programs.
• The result was a strategic business platform that could also
function as a technical workstation to run high-end
engineering and scientific applications.
1993: Windows NT 3.1(contd..)
Windows NT 3.1(contd)
• Windows NT was the first Windows operating system
to combine support for high-end, client/server
business applications with the industry's leading
personal productivity applications.
• It was initially available in both a desktop
(workstation) version and a server version called
Windows NT Advanced Server.
• The desktop version was well received by developers because
of its security, stability, and Microsoft Win32® application
programming interface (API)—a combination that made it
easier to support powerful programs.
Windows NT 3.1(contd)
• The result was a strategic business platform that could
also function as a technical workstation to run high-end
engineering and scientific applications
• In addition, the operating system broke new ground in
security, operating system power, performance,
desktop scalability, and reliability.
• New features included a preemptive multitasking
scheduler for Windows–based applications, integrated
networking, domain server security, OS/2 and POSIX
subsystems, support for multiple processor
architectures, and the NTFS file system
1993: Windows for Workgroups 3.11
• A superset of Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups
3.11 added peer-to-peer workgroup and domain
networking support. For the first time, Windows–based
PCs were network-aware and became an integral part
of the emerging client/server computing evolution.
• Windows for Workgroups was used in local area
networks (LANs) and on standalone PCs and laptop
computers. It added features of special interest to
corporate users, such as centralized configuration and
security, significantly improved support for Novell
NetWare networks, and remote access service (RAS
1994: Windows NT Workstation 3.5
• The Windows NT Workstation 3.5 release provided the
highest degree of protection yet for critical business
applications and data. With support for the OpenGL
graphics standard, this operating system helped power
high-end applications for software development,
engineering, financial analysis, scientific, and businesscritical tasks.
• The product also offered 32-bit performance
improvements and better application support,
including support for NetWare file and print servers.
Other improved productivity features included the
capability to use friendlier, long file names of up to 255
characters
1995: Windows 95
• Windows 95 was the successor to the three existing generalpurpose desktop operating systems from Microsoft:—
o Windows 3.1,
o Windows for Workgroups,
o MS-DOS.
• Windows 95 integrated a 32-bit TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol) stack for :o built-in Internet support,
o dial-up networking, and
o new Plug and Play capabilities that made it easy for users to
install hardware and software.
• The 32-bit operating system also offered enhanced
multimedia capabilities, more powerful features for mobile
computing, and integrated networking.
1996: Windows NT Workstation 4.0
• This upgrade to the Microsoft business desktop
operating system brought increased ease of use and
simplified management, higher network throughput,
and tools for developing and managing intranets.
Windows NT Workstation 4.0 included the popular
Windows 95 user interface yet provided improved
networking support for easier and more secure access
to the Internet and corporate intranets.
• In October 1998, Microsoft announced that Windows
NT would no longer carry the initials NT and that the
next major version of the business operating system
would be called Windows 2000.
1998: Windows 98
• Windows 98 was the upgrade from Windows 95.
Described as an operating system that "Works
Better, Plays Better," Windows 98 was the first
version of Windows designed specifically for
consumers.
• With Windows 98, users could find information
more easily on their PCs as well as the Internet.
Other ease-of-use improvements included the
ability to open and close applications more
quickly, support for reading DVD discs, and
support for universal serial bus (USB) devices
1999: Windows 98 Second Edition
• Windows 98 SE, as it was often abbreviated, was an
incremental update to Windows 98. It offered consumers a
variety of new and enhanced hardware compatibility and
Internet-related features.
• Windows 98 SE helped improve users' online experience
with the Internet Explorer 5.0 browser technology and
Microsoft Windows NetMeeting® 3.0 conferencing
software. It also included Microsoft DirectX® API 6.1, which
provided improved support for Windows multimedia, and
offered home networking capabilities through Internet
connection sharing (ICS). Windows 98 SE was also the first
consumer operating system from Microsoft capable of
using device drivers that also worked with the Windows NT
business operating system
2000: Windows Millennium Edition
(Windows Me)
• Designed for home computer users, Windows Me offered
consumers numerous music, video, and home networking
enhancements and reliability improvements.
• For example, to help consumers troubleshoot their systems, the
System Restore feature let users roll back their PC software
configuration to a date or time before a problem occurred.
Windows Movie Maker provided users with the tools to digitally
edit, save, and share home videos. And with Microsoft Windows
Media® Player 7 technologies, users could find, organize, and play
digital media easily.
• Windows Me was the last Microsoft operating system to be based
on the Windows 95 code base. Microsoft announced that all future
operating system products would be based on the Windows NT and
Windows 2000 kernel.
2000: Windows 2000 Professional
• More than just the upgrade to Windows NT Workstation 4.0, Windows
2000 Professional was also designed to replace:- Windows 95, Windows
98, and Windows NT Workstation 4.0 on all business desktops and laptops.
• Built on top of the proven Windows NT Workstation 4.0 code base,
Windows 2000 added major improvements in reliability, ease of use,
Internet compatibility, and support for mobile computing.
• Among other improvements, Windows 2000 Professional simplified
hardware installation by adding support for a wide variety of new Plug and
Play hardware, including advanced networking and wireless products, USB
devices, IEEE 1394 devices, and infrared devices
2001: Windows Experience
(Windows XP)
• With the release of Windows XP in October 2001, Microsoft
merged its two Windows operating system lines for
consumers and businesses, uniting them around the
Windows 2000 code base.
• The "XP" in Windows XP stands for "experience,"
symbolizing the innovative experiences that Windows can
offer to personal computer users.
• With Windows XP, home users can work with and enjoy
music, movies, messaging, and photos with their computer,
while business users can work smarter and faster, thanks to
new technical-support technology, a fresh user interface,
and many other improvements that make it easier to use
for a wide range of tasks.
2001: Windows XP Professional
• Windows XP Professional brings the solid foundation of
Windows 2000 to the PC desktop, enhancing reliability,
security, and performance.
• With a fresh visual design, Windows XP Professional
includes features for business and advanced home
computing, including remote desktop support, an
encrypting file system, and system restore and
advanced networking features.
• Key enhancements for mobile users include wireless
802.1x networking support, Windows Messenger, and
Remote Assistance.
2001: Windows XP Home Edition
• Windows XP Home Edition offers a clean,
simplified visual design that makes frequently
used features more accessible. Designed for
home users, the product offers such
enhancements as the Network Setup Wizard,
Windows Media Player, Windows Movie
Maker, and enhanced digital photo capabilities
2001: Windows XP 64-bit Edition
•Windows XP 64-Bit Edition satisfies the
needs of power users with workstations that
use the Intel Itanium 64-bit processor.
2001: Windows XP 64-bit Edition
• The first 64-bit client operating system from
Microsoft, Windows XP 64-Bit Edition is
designed for specialized, technical workstation
users who require large amounts of memory
and floating point performance in areas such as
movie special effects, 3D animation,
engineering, and scientific applications.
2002: Windows XP Media Center
Edition
•For home computing and entertainment, Microsoft released
the Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system in
October 2002 for specialized media center PCs.
2002: Windows XP Media Center
Edition(contd..)
• With all the benefits of Windows XP
Professional, Media Center Edition adds fun
digital media and entertainment options,
enabling home users to browse the Internet,
watch live television, communicate with
friends and family, enjoy digital music and
video collections, watch DVDs, and work from
home.
2002: Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
• The long-held industry vision of mainstream
pen-based computing became a reality when
Microsoft unveiled the Windows XP Tablet PC
Edition in November, 2002.
2002: Windows XP Tablet PC
Edition(contd..)
• The logical evolution of notebook computers,
Tablet PCs include a digital pen for handwriting
recognition capabilities, yet can be used with a
keyboard or mouse, too.
• In addition, users can run their existing Windows
XP applications. The result is a computer that is
more versatile and mobile than traditional
notebook PCs.